The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is an expansive region, with unevenly-distributed water resources compared to population and settlement patterns coupled with a variable and changing climate. Therefore water availability and water quality are critical concerns for many SADC Member States. While Southern Africa experiences significant precipitation, it is highly seasonal in most countries and the distribution varies between tropical areas in the north of the region and arid and semi-arid climates in southern and central regions. Furthermore, competing domestic, agricultural and industrial demands can mean that a large agricultural industry can receive its required quota, while a small neighbouring landholder receives very little. These influences on water availability can ultimately lead to Food Insecurity in the region. Other factors that contribute to water scarcity include population growth and climate change. Such competing pressures for use also frequently affect water quality, meaning that in some cases water may be available, but not fit for human consumption or domestic use.

Sharing Water Resources

The Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses (2000) emphasises the equitable use of water resources, using the guiding principles of Integrated Water Resources Management; also taking into account geographic and climatic factors, as well as the socio-economic demands of SADC Member States. The SADC Water Division promotes the sustainable use of water resources through coordinated management, protection and equitable use.

As can be seen from the table and map below, such cooperation and coordination is critical within SADC. The 12 SADC mainland Member States share 15 river basins. These river basins are managed by 12 river basin organisations or basin management authorities, all at different stages of development and capacity.

Major shared river basins within SADC.

Watercourse

Countries

River Basin Organisation

Buzi

Mozambique and Zimbabwe

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic

Major River Basins in SADC

Increasingly it is understood that there is a cost associated with the use and degradation of natural resources. Natural Resource Accounting is the process of assigning a monetary value to resources that are traditionally not valued in such a way. This helps a government to integrate natural resources into the system of national accounts. SADC has embraced this concept and through extensive project work, has developed and tested methodologies for Economic Accounting of Water Use. The method elaborated through this project provides a practical framework for understanding the role of water in the economy of Member States. Pilot projects were established in four countries and two river basins in SADC, allowing for the allowing further standardisation of methodologies, indicators and best practices. Read more about the Economic Accounting of Water Use Project.

Water Demand Management

Increased access to safe water for drinking and sanitation are critical development initiatives as noted in Regional Water Strategy, affecting both the health and prosperity of the poorest and most vulnerable members of society. The SADC Water Demand Management Programme seeks to promote water demand management as a means to ensure efficient and sustainable water resource utilisation. The programme approaches water demand management from a “pro-poor” perspective through:

Regional water resource development planning and management;

Infrastructure development support;

Water governance; and

Capacity building.

Supporting Cooperation

A critical component of the dialogue between SADC and International Cooperating Partners is the Water Strategy Reference Group, which consists of the SADC Secretariat and all International Cooperating Partners currently engaged in the SADC Water Sector. This reference group is guided by the Windhoek Declaration (2006), which requires all development assistance is coordinated through the SADC-ICP Partnership Dialogue. The coordination of multilateral support by International Cooperating Partners (ICP) to the SADC Water Sector is currently led by Germany through the GIZ-implemented Transboundary Water Management in SADC Programme. Read more about Development Cooperation in SADC. Further information can be found on the SADC Water Sector International Cooperation Partner Portal.